Table 1.
Total and unit cost (USD) of drug checking program in Rhode Island operating from January 27, 2023 – May 4, 2023 (N=101 drugs submitted for checking)
| Total cost (USD) | Cost per drug checked (USD)* | |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | ||
| Program director (16 hours) | 756 | 7 |
| FTIR technician (128 hours) | 3,317 | 33 |
| Research assistant (96 hours) | 2,488 | 25 |
| Peer outreach worker (119 hours) | 3,570 | 35 |
| Front desk staff (48 hours) | 1,058 | 10 |
| Sub-total (% of total) | 11,188 (16%) | 111 (23%) |
| Non-personnel recurrent | ||
| Supplies** | 461 | 4 |
| Office space (50 ft2 or 4.65 m2) | 1,600 | 16 |
| Sub-total (% of total) | 2,061 (3%) | 20 (4%) |
| Equipment and other start-up | ||
| FTIR machine | 23,391 | 9 |
| FTIR spectral analysis software | 2,349 | 23 |
| FTIR libraries | 9,839 | 97 |
| Designated FTIR laptop | 1,724 | 1 |
| Library update | 20 | |
| Tablets | 1,289 | 3 |
| Office and lab. equip*** | 563 | 6 |
| Incentive | 505 | 5 |
| Confirmatory testing | 15,150 | 150 |
| Sub-total (% of total) | 54,809 (77%) | 314 (66%) |
| Training | ||
| Technical training (66 hours) | 2,167 | 21 |
| Troubleshooting (14 hours) | 630 | 7 |
| Mileage to attend in-person training | 189 | 2 |
| Sub-total (% of total) | 2,986 (4%) | 30 (6%) |
| Total | 71,044 **** | 474 **** |
assuming realistic service capacity and incorporating depreciation for equipment
supplies include: small mylar or plastic bags, tissue wipes, disposal bags, plastic cups, nitrile gloves, small scoops, disposable surgical masks, dental bibs, fentanyl test strip, aluminum foil, isopropyl alcohol, distilled water, syringes without needles, microtubes, medium bags, labels, business cards
office-related equipment include: dispensing bottles, goggles/glasses, safe/lock, despite lock bag, supply box, pencil box, graduated cylinder, dental tools, mortar and pestle, tweezers, surge protector
may not sum to total due to rounding